WiiNintendo

Plot
A robotic illness known as Roboenza starts infecting robots, causing them to malfunction, with Roll becoming one of the victims. A month following the outbreak, the infected robots go berserk and attempt to take over the world. Mega Man goes to stop them, with Proto Man deciding to help him out.

Gameplay
Mega Man 10 will have three playable characters: Mega Man, Proto Man and Bass. The Robot Masters in the game are Sheep Man, Commando Man, Blade Man, Strike Man, Solar Man, Chill Man, Nitro Man, and Pump Man. An easy mode will also be included in the game (which has been compared in difficulty to Mega Man 2) that alters levels, such as placing platforms over spike pits. There will also be a ‘Mega Man Challenges’ mode where players can practice their skills. Returning features from the previous game include an in-between level item shop and downloadable content.

SAVE THEM ALL!
The Dodos need a serious helping hand in this action-reflection creative game.
Clear the way and protect as many lost eggs as possible!

Trailer:

TOKYO (AP) — Nintendo’s president shrugged off the just unveiled iPad tablet computer from Apple as delivering ”no surprises,” and displayed as little enthusiasm for 3-D technology and high-definition upgrades for games.

”It was a bigger iPod Touch,” Satoru Iwata said of the much anticipated device shown Wednesday by Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs.

Iwata denied speculation in Japanese media that what Nintendo Co. has in the works in new gadgets may be a DS equipped with a motion-sensor similar to the wand for Nintendo’s hit Wii home console, or a Wii upgraded for high-definition TVs.

”I question whether those features would be enough to get people to buy new machines,” he said of the DS. Nintendo engineers are developing new machines, he said, without giving details.

Iwata also doesn’t expect 3D video-gaming to catch on, although he welcomed 3D movies at theaters like James Cameron’s hit ”Avatar.”

”I have doubts whether people will be wearing glasses to play games at home. How is that going to look to other people?” he said at a Tokyo hotel.

Sony Corp. and other technology companies are making big investments in 3-D TVs, expecting it will boost sales growth in the next few years.

Kyoto-based Nintendo, the maker of Pokemon and Super Mario games, would also have to look into the possible health effects of longtime 3-D game playing, which is likely to last longer than a two-hour film, Iwata said.

Nintendo has scored success by making games easier to play for the elderly, women and newcomers. Iwata reiterated his company will continue on that track as potential for sales growth remains in Japan, the U.S. and Europe.

He made no pretense to hide he was totally unimpressed with the iPad.

”There were no surprises for me,” said Iwata.

[New York Times]

The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 could see further price cuts this year, analyst Michael Pachter has predicted, which would lead to the Wii losing the price advantage it has over its competitors.

Following Nintendo’s release this week of its Q3 financials, Pachter said that the company’s performance had been largely in line with expectations, with solid holiday sales for the Wii and strong performances by Wii Fit Plus and New Super Mario Bros Wii – both of which sold over 10 million.

However, he predicted the console could lose its advantage next holiday as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 come down further in price.

“The Wii enjoyed a $350 price advantage over the PS3 at launch, and a $150 advantage until September. Now, the gap has narrowed to $100, with the feature-laden PS3 a tempting purchase for prospective console households,” he said.

“The holiday Wii sales boost was primarily attributable to a $50 gift card promotion offered by Wal-Mart; while we expect similar promotions at holiday next year, we expect the other consoles to be lower-priced by then, further eroding the Wii’s competitive price advantage.”

Furthermore, the analyst said the DSi’s relatively high $169 price point could put it at a disadvantage to the $199 iPod Touch – a more versatile device and one with a “coolness” factor that is difficult to overcome.

DS software was tracking slightly below Nintendo’s 150 million unit guidance, he added – and that guidance was significantly below last year’s 197 million units.

“It appears that piracy in Europe and some substitution of iPod Touch games has impacted DS software sales more than we expected, and we have adjusted our estimates for FY:11 to account for further pressure,” he said.

Sales of DS hardware were also underperforming on expectations, but Pachter predicted the March launch of the DSi XL would allow the company to ship sufficient numbers to meet targets.

[GameIndustry.biz]

After much speculation, it seems Metroid: Other M will have a 2010 release date. According to recent news, it will be this summer for Japan.  We have not heard anything yet about a more specific North American release date.  There is not much more to the website, except for some music. 

Check it out here.

===========================================

Other points of interest:

Wii (Americas)

Endless Ocean: Blue World – Feb 22, 2010

Sin and Punishment 2: – Q1 2010

Metroid: Other M, and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are confirmed for 2010 as well. Span Smasher, Line Attack Heroes, and Monado are listed as TBA.

Wii (Japan)

Zangeki no Regnileiv: Feb 11, 2010

Xenoblade: (actually, this is likely Monando) – Spring 2010

Metroid: Other M – Summer 2010

Super Mario Galaxy 2, The Last Story, Kensakusu (this might be Cosmic Walker), Span Smasher, 100 Go de Start, Hoshi no Kirby, Line Attack Heroes, and The Legend of Zelda.

XSEED Games announced today that Ragnarok DS has gone gold, and will start shipping to retailers across North America beginning February 16th with a suggested retail price of $34.99. The game releases with an early pre-sale program that supports the game’s popular MMORPG PC counterpart, Ragnarok Online PC. Developed by Gungho Works, Ragnarok DS brings the same addictive gameplay of customization and exploration enjoyed by more than three million North American registered users in the PC version to Nintendo DS.

Players step into the roll of young Ales as he steps into the world in search of adventure with the goal of eventually starting his own Guild. It is not long before this young rookie adventurer is propelled down a path toward danger, excitement, and a heroine in distress. Throughout his travels Ales encounters individuals who help in his quest for fortune and fame, as these friends will become invaluable new allies as they join his party.

Players may use both the stylus and +Control Pad to control character movement, select items or access the menu. As a character’s base levels increases, the character earns both Status and Skill Points. Players may utilize these points to customize their characters to best suit their playing style, choosing from a number of different basic job classes such as Swordsman, Thief, and Merchant, eventually progressing towards more advanced job classes such as Knight, Assassin, and Blacksmith. Staying true to the community and teamwork that the original is based on, Ragnarok DS allows players to team up with two other friends wirelessly via Nintendo DS Wireless Connection or Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to take on the Mirage Tower, which has 50 floors with randomly generated maps and completion conditions, with the chance to obtain rare items.

[Ragnarok Website]

A look behind the scenes at Flip’s Twisted World, an upcoming Wii platformer published by Majesco

[Link]

If you have been waiting for the upcoming WiiWare title “Tower of Shadow,” and would like to get an idea of what the game will be like, check out the game’s Japanese website for a flash-based trial.

CAPCOM^® ANNOUNCES MEGA MAN^® ZERO COLLECTION FOR NINTENDO DS^TM

A Collection of the Legendary Mega Man ZERO Titles Bundled Together For On-The-Go Action!

SAN MATEO, Calif — January 28, 2010 — Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced that the Mega Man® ZERO Collection is coming to Nintendo DS™. The Mega Man ZERO Collection is comprised of all four Mega Man ZERO titles bundled together. Having sold over 500 thousand units in North America, all four titles will be available on one DS cartridge for the first time at a great price. The portable Mega Man® fun will begin when the title arrives in early Summer 2010.

The first Mega Man ZERO game was released in 2002 on the GameBoy® Advance. It featured Zero, a popular Capcom character that was introduced in the Mega Man® X series. The Mega Man ZERO series follows Zero through a dark and thrilling 2D action-adventure with high-quality visuals and action. Users can expect to make use of Zero’s trademarks weapons like the Z-sabor and Buster Shot. There will also be interesting devices like the Chain Rod and Zero Knuckle. For the first time, the Mega Man ZERO series will be available for Nintendo DS™, complete with all-new modes.

In Mega Man Zero our hero awakens after 100 years of sleep to a world where innocent reploids (robots) are unjustly attacked by an organization called “Neo Arcadia”. This new government has turned the world into a place where it is extremely hard for reploids to live and where they are under constant persecution. Reploids who have managed to escape from the punishment flee to an old city which now lies in ruin, but the evil Neo Arcadia is closing-in on their location. A genius scientist named Ciel, who lives with the innocent reploids in hopes of saving them, tries to revive the legendary reploid Mega Man Zero in order to save the cornered reploids. As Mega Man Zero, it is up to you to save the world.

In Mega Man® Zero 2, it has been one year since Zero saved the reploids and defeated the evil advance of Copy X and Neo Arcadia. Nevertheless, Neo Arcadia still hunts him and sets a trap for our hero. His plan is to trick Zero and use him to wreak chaos between reploids and humans once again. But, can he succeed?

Mega Man® Zero 3 is set in a world called “Neo Arcadia” that has been created as a utopia for humans and reploids. This new chapter continues the adventure of the series’ title hero, Zero, and his reploid allies in the Resistance group who are fighting for peace. In Mega Man Zero 3, Zero encounters a malevolent new reploid called Omega who has unleashed the evil power of the Dark Elf to brainwash the Resistance in order to take over Neo Arcadia. As the only one who has escaped the brainwashing attack, Zero must fight to save his allies and Neo Arcadia.

Mega Man® Zero 4 picks up right after the events of Mega Man Zero 3. After falling under the evil rule of Dr. Weil, Neo Arcadia has collapsed into a state of chaos and confusion. Zero discovers this disastrous turn of events when he and his friends come to the rescue of a band of humans fleeing Neo Arcadia. Now it’s up to our hero Zero to resolve this terrible conflict between humans and reploids to restore peace and security to the land. With new systems to seize enemy weapons and create strengthening chips, plus new Cyber elf programs to introduce new abilities, this is some of the most exhilarating Mega Man action you can get in a handheld experience.

For more information, please visit: http://capcom-unity.com

ABOUT CAPCOM
Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment for game consoles, PCs, handheld and wireless devices. Founded in 1983, the company has created hundreds of games, including best-selling franchises Resident Evil®, Street Fighter®, Mega Man® and Devil May Cry®. Capcom maintains operations in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Tokyo and Hong Kong, with corporate headquarters located in Osaka, Japan. More information about Capcom can be found on the company web site, www.capcom.com.

Mega Man, Capcom, Resident Evil and Devil May Cry are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Capcom Co., Ltd., in the U.S. or other countries. Street Fighter is a registered trademark of Capcom U.S.A., Inc. Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2004 Nintendo. All other trademarks are owned by their respective owners.

[PR email]